Delta County, Michigan

Delta County is a county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,903. The county seat is Escanaba. The county was surveyed in 1843 and organized in 1861. Its name originates from the Greek letter delta (Δ), which refers to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron, and Marquette counties. Recreation and forest products are major industries, and crops include hay, corn, small grains, potatoes, and strawberries. Delta County comprises the Escanaba, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,991 square miles (5,160 km2), of which 1,171 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 820 square miles (2,100 km2) (41%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Michigan by land area. Adjacent counties By land Menominee County (southwest, Central Time Zone border) Marquette County (northwest) Alger County (north) Schoolcraft County (east) By water Leelanau County (southeast) Door County, Wisconsin (south, Central Time Zone border) National protected area Hiawatha National Forest (part) Communities Cities Escanaba (county seat) Gladstone Village Garden Civil townships Census-designated places Rapid River Rock Unincorporated communities Indian reservations A small section of the Hannahville Indian Community, which has most of its territory in neighboring Menominee County to the west, extends into Bark River Township. The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians occupies a very small portion in the southwest city limits of Escanaba. Demographics Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 36,903, a median age of 47.8 years, with 19.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 24.9% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over. As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population. As of the 2020 census, 57.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 42.7% lived in rural areas. As of the 2020 census, there were 16,290 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. As of the 2020 census, there were 19,786 housing units, of which 17.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.5% were owner-occupied and 21.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 2010 census The 2010 United States census indicated Delta County had a population of 37,069. Education School districts include: Bark River-Harris School District Big Bay de Noc School District Escanaba Area Public Schools Gladstone Area Schools Mid Peninsula School District Rapid River Public Schools Government Delta County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships. Elected officials (information as of September 2018) Transportation Major highways US 2 runs east–west through the lower part of the county, entering from Schoolcraft County east of Garden Corners and running westward to an intersection with US 41 at Rapid River. US 41 runs north–south through central part of the county, entering from Alger County at Trenary, running southerly to Rapid River then southwesterly along the Lake Michigan shore to the southwest corner of county. M-35 enters from Marquette County at the northwest corner of the county and runs southeasterly to intersection with US 41 at Gladstone. M-69 runs east–west across the southwestern tip of the county, entering from Menominee County at Schaffer and running southeasterly to an intersection with US 41 west of Narenta. M-183 runs from the southern tip of the Garden Peninsula at Fayette State Park to an intersection with US 2 at Garden Corners. Airport The county is served by Delta County Airport (KESC), southwest of Escanaba. It provides scheduled airline service to Detroit and Minneapolis. See also List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Delta County National Register of Historic Places listings in Delta County, Michigan References External links Delta County government website Delta County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D. Archived July 14, 2020, at the Wayback Machine "Bibliography on Delta County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.